Use of Automated Fingerprint Identification Systems to Process, Search and Identify Palm Prints and Latent Palm Marks

• NCJ Number: 175851
• Journal: Journal of Forensic Identification Volume: 49 Issue: 1 Dated: January/February 1999 Pages: 18-36
• Author(s): M J Leadbetter
• Date Published: 1999
• Length: 19 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This article describes the use of Automated Fingerprint Identification Systems (AFIS) for searching latent palm marks and processing inked palm prints.

Abstract

The article outlines application and use of AFIS and describes the method whereby AFIS matches palm prints of convicted criminals with latent palm marks recovered from crime scenes. The AFIS procedure involves seven main steps: (1) Entry of Textual Data, either manually via keyboard/mouse or via automatic barcode reader or both; (2) Capture of Images, either by a digital camera device or by high resolution scanner; (3) Encoding of Images, which are either rolled, inked impressions of fingers, thumbs or palms and/or lifted latent marks recovered from crime scenes; (4) Editing and Quality Control, a manual operation; (5) Launching the Search, ten-print/ten-print, latent mark/ten-print, ten-print/latent mark, or latent mark/latent mark; (6) Verification of Results, done by the user; no currently available AFIS can report that a match has been achieved; and (7) Validation of Case. Notes, table, figures, references